The talks between Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta and Maltese PM Joseph Muscat focused mainly on the issue of migration and oil exploration.

However, one of the most important issues that was brought up was the danger of Libya turning into a failed state.

Asked by reporters about the situation in Libya, Mr Letta made it quite clear that his government will only deal with a united country. He was obviously making clear reference to the rival ‘government’ which had set itself up in the East of Libya, in Benghazi.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat also made a similar declaration. He said “we cannot allow Libya to turn into a failed state”. Forget the oil deal for a second. We must really sit and take stock of this situation. We are looking at the potential collapse of a huge nation to our south and all that it entails.

At present, we have a migration problem, and a big problem at that. But we only need to look at Somalia to see what could happen. Let’s put it into context. A large number of people who end up on boats hoping to get to Europe to seek a better life are from Somalia. That country is a lawless land where warlords hold sway. This is what people, in their thousands, are trying to escape.

Now let us transpose that situation to Libya. Let us think hypothetically. If Libya’s militias are not reined in, they have the potential to sprout rival warlords. They will do battle in the streets of Libya’s cities, just as they did (and still do) in Mogadishu. Faced with relentless bloodshed, Libyans (not sub-Saharan Africans) will try to leave in their droves, in any way possible. They will get on boats and they will try and get to Europe. Just as we have seen Syrians flee their homeland, the same will happen if Libya descends into chaos.

Dr Muscat said that Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan has given the militias up to 31 December to disarm and that the Libyan government will not pay them for their services any longer. In other developments, he has called on the Libyan people to protest peacefully against the militia. The Libyan Prime Minister has also told his people that if Libya’s security is not improved dramatically, the country could risk foreign intervention.

Libya must be given all the possible support that it needs to unite. The central Tripoli government remains weak. Although its scheme to disarm militia by buying up weapons is yielding some results, the main factor that needs to be addressed is creating jobs.

Many militiamen were engaged to boost the army and police force, which were completely in tatters after the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi. Now, the militias are more powerful than the forces of law and order, and that is what must be addressed. Unless Libya manages to create employment for the thousands of armed militiamen, there will be no solution. Malta and Italy are taking the situation very seriously, and concern has been expressed by both governments. While Italy, Malta (and Greece) forced the issue of migration onto the next EU Summit in Brussels, the coalition – which has grown in size – must make the bloc realise that unless a peaceful and prosperous Libya emerges from the ashes of the revolution, the problem will become a crisis as thousands of Libyans seek to flee. Unless peace and stability come to Libya, then it will no longer be a gateway for sub-Saharan Africans, it will become a place whose people will get into boats and set off in hope, to get to Europe.